Defibrillation electrode pad and package therefor

ABSTRACT

Absorbent pads soaked with a conductive solution are packaged in moistureproof packages in a manner which assures easy access to the pads under the emergency conditions normally associated with the use of defibrillation equipment. Two separate moistureproof containers in the form of plastic bags are sealed together with each bag containing a soaked pad. The two bags are so arranged and interconnected that the user can easily retrieve the pads for immediate application to the chest of a victim.

United States Patent Kawaguchi [451 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] DEFIBRILLATIONELECTRODE PAD 2,887,] 12 5/ 1959 Smith ..l28/4l7 AND PACKAGE THEREFOR1,411,077 3/1922 Balogh ..206/56 AA UX [72] Inventor: Harold H.Kawaguchi, Seattle,

wash- Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer [73] Assignee: Physio-ControlCorporation, Seattle, Attorney-Christensen, and Matthews Wash.

[22] Filed: Aug. 17, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 64,207 Absorbentpads soaked with a conductive solution are packaged in moistureproofpackages in a manner [52] Cl 206/63 2 R 128/417 206/56 AA which assureseasy access to the pads under the emer- 229/56 229/66 gency conditionsnormally associated with the use of 51 CLUUB6Sd 1/22 3 5 31/12 A6) 19/00defibrillation equipment. TWO separate moistureproof 58 Field of Search..206/63.2 R, 56 AA, 56 AB, containers in the form of Plastic bags areSealed 47 12 /20 15 417 together with each bag containing a soaked pad.The two bags are so arranged and interconnected that the [56] ReferencesCited user can easily retrieve the pads for immediate application to thechest of a victim. UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures2,699,779 1/1955 Lustrg ..206/63.2 X

P'A'TENTEDwczz m2 INVENTOR. HAROLD H. M lk/4606M ATTORNEYSDEFIBRILLATION ELECTRODE PAD AND PACKAGE THEREFOR Defibrillationequipment of various types is well known at the present time and findswidespread usage in hospitals and is typically carried by emergencyrescue vehicles. The defibrillation equipment basically includes a highenergy output electric supply together with suitable electrodes forapplying a large quantity of electrical energy to the chest of a victimwhose heart has gone into fibrillation. In using such equipment it isimportant that the electrodes made good electrical contact with thechest of the patient so that the stored energy is actually delivered tothe victim. Poor electrical contact can result in burning of the skinand also can prevent the application of the desired quantity ofelectrical energy to the victim.

It is typical in the art of defibrillating a patient to make use of anelectrically conductive paste or jelly beneath the electrodes of thedefibrillation equipment in order to achieve a low resistance electricalconnection. However, such pastes and jellies present a problem in thatthey typically cause the electrodes to slide about the chest of thepatient. When repeated defibrillation signals are required, it is foundthat the subsequent application of the electrodes to the slippery skinof the patient can present a problem. This is particularly true when thedefibrillation is being attempted in the field or at a remote locationwhere a person may have suffered the heart disorder. In those cases, aswell as in the intensive care units of a hospital, it is extremelyimportant that the defibrillation equipment be placed in operation atthe earliest possible time if the life of the patient is to be saved. Inorder to overcome some of the problems associated with conductivejellies and pastes, pads of absorbent material such as surgical paper orcloth soaked in a saline solution have been utilized beneath thedefibrillation electrodes. However a problem has been encountered inthat such pads necessitate pre-soaking, which results in limited shelflife of the pads. A saline bath can also be made available so that thepersonnel using the defibrillation equipment can soak the pads at thetime of defibrillating the patient. This of course adds to the timerequired to actually apply the defibrillation signals to a patient oncethe patient has been reached. The latter approach is also impractical inthose cases where the defibrillation equipment is carried in anemergency vehicle which typically rushes to the scene of a fallenvictim, with the personnel typically rushing from the vehicle with thedefibrillation equipment in hand in order to apply the defibrillationsignals to the victim at the earliest possible moment.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved defibrillation electrode pad and package.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a conductive padassembly for defibrillation equipment with the conductive pad having anextended shelf life and with the package assembly assuring ready removaland separation of two pads.

In accordance with the teachings of the present in vention, a pair ofpads soaked in a conductive solution are sealed inside of separateplastic bags with the plastic serving to prevent drying of the soakedpads. A saline solution works well for soaking the pads to make themgood electrical conductors. Two such bars or packages are interconnectedin a manner which facilitates the immediate removal of each of the padsby the user by tearing the bags at a predetermined location. By havingtwo such separate bags interconnected, the user is always assured ofhaving the required conductive pad for each of the electrode assembliesof the defibrillation equipment typically used at the present time.

The above and additional advantages and objects of the invention will bemore clearly understood from the following description when read withreference with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a defibrillation electrode pad andpackage combination according to the invention laid out flat and showingelectrode pads contained in pockets of the transparent package with afoldable and removable portion connecting the pockets.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the pad and package combination shown inFIG. 1, showing the connecting portion being torn away to open thepockets for access to the pads in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view showing the folded connecting portion tornaway leaving the pockets open along the severance lines.

FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention, with thepackage shown folded and having a curved tear line so that when theconnecting portion is torn free a portion of the defibrillation pad isdirectly exposed for ease of removal.

The electrode pad and package combination shown in FIG. 1 consists of asubstantially rectangular plastic package 10 having moistureproofpockets 12 and 14 at each end in each of which is contained an electrodepad 16, 18 soaked in a conductive solution, such as a saline solution.The pockets l2 and 14 are formed by opposite walls 20 and 22 boundtogether by heat or pressure welds along peripheral lines 24 and 26, 28and 30. The foldable interconnecting portion 32 is bounded by scoredtear lines 34 and 36 extending across the package with notches 38 at theends of the tear lines to make it easier to start the tear under theemergency conditions surrounding use of the pads. The entire package ispreferably constructed of a light plastic transparent material such aspolyethylene which maintains its moistureproof character over areasonably long period of storage time so that the pads are maintainedmoist for maximum electrical conductivity.

The tear lines 34 and 36 may be formed by the heat or pressure weldsdefining the separate pockets or bags in which the pads are contained,but it is preferred that separate tear lines be provided to assure thatthe pockets are left open for immediate removal of the pads, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. Thus in the embodiments shown the tear lines 34 and 36are positioned on opposite sides of weld lines 40 and 42 which extendacross the connecting portion 32 and separate the pockets l2 and 14 sothat the pads and solution contained therein will not move from onepocket to another. The tear lines 34 and 36 may be made before thepackage is assembled and do not destroy the waterproof characteristic ofthe package.

A modification of the tear lines for opening the pockets of the packageis shown in FIG. 4 wherein tear line 37 is curved in the centerdownwardly beyond the edge of the electrode pad 18. Thus when theconnecting portion 32 is removed the upper edge 19 of the electrode pad18, and pad 16 on the opposite side, is exposed for easy gripping andremoval of the pad.

The invention therefore provides a simple and easily constructedelectrode pad and package combination which enables storage ofpre-soaked electrode pads in a convenient manner and quick removal ofthe pads from the package under the emergency conditions occurring atthe time such pads are needed.

What is claimed is:

1. A defibrillation electrode pad and package combination comprising:

a. a foldable package having two watertight pockets and a connectingportion therebetween;

b. said connecting portion being bendable along a transverse linewhereby said package can be folded so that the pockets lie against oneanother;

c. said package further having a transverse tear line across each ofsaid pockets and parallel to said transverse fold line whereby whenfolded said connecting portion can be torn away along said tear lines toopen said pockets simultaneously; and

d. a defibrillation electrode pad soaked in an electrically conductivesolution contained in each of said pockets.

2. A defibrillation electrode pad and package combination comprising apackage having two watertight pockets and a connecting portiontherebetween, said connecting portion being bendable along a transverseline and scored on each side of said transverse line whereby saidpockets can be separated and opened simultaneously by tearing acrosssaid connecting portion, and a defibrillation electrode pad held in aconductive solution in each of said pockets.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said connecting portion is scoredalong parallel lines intersecting the respective pockets and is foldablebetween said lines so that said pockets lie flat against one another andsaid connecting portion is thereby positioned along one edge of thepackage to be gripped and torn away to open said pocket simultaneously.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said package is formed of plasticwalls welded together along peripheral lines defining said pockets, andwherein a weld line extends across said connecting portion between saidscore lines.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said score lines extend across anedge of the electrode pad contained in each pocket whereby said pads areexposed for gripping when said connecting portion is removed.

a: k a:

1. A defibrillation electrode pad and package combination comprising: a.a foldable package having two watertight pockets and a connectingportion therebetween; b. said connecting portion being bendable along atransverse line whereby said package can be folded so that the pocketslie against one another; c. said package further having a transversetear line across each of said pockets and parallel to said transversefold line whereby when folded said connecting portion can be torn awayalong said tear lines to open said pockets simultaneously; and d. adefibrillation electrode pad soaked in an electrically conductivesolution contained in each of said pockets.
 2. A defibrillationelectrode pad and package combination comprising a package having twowatertight pockets and a connecting portion therebetween, saidconnecting portion being bendable along a transverse line and scored oneach side of said transverse line whereby said pockets can be separatedand opened simultaneously by tearing across said connecting portion, anda defibrillation electrode pad held in a conductive solution in each ofsaid pockets.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said connectingportion is scored along parallel lines intersecting the respectivepockets and is foldable between said lines so that said pockets lie flatagainst one another and said connecting portion is thereby positionedalong one edge of the package to be gripped and torn away to open saidpockets simultaneously.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein saidpackage is formed of plastic walls welded together along peripherallines defining said pockets, and wherein a weld line extends across saidconnecting portion between said score lines.
 5. The combination of claim4 wherein said score lines extend across an edge of the electrode padcontained in each pocket whereby said pads are exposed for gripping whensaid connecting portion is removed.